On Banning...

[Biff]

The IP addresses generally match. Mods can check that.

Don't think that's exposing some secret as it's pretty much a standard message board feature.

Most people on the web have a dynamic IP address, not a static one. Also there are ways to hide your address.
I could log on to this site with an Chinese IP address, if I wanted to.

 

[Bonzo]

Dynamic IPs are common in Germany. In the US not so much, I think.

 

[Terminator]

What if he was using the - Tor network. Would the mods be able to detect his IP?

 

[jaredmorgs]

If there is a way to circumvent, there is a way to detect. Let's just leave it at that.

Human nature is human nature. Serial offenders can't change the way they interact because it is part of their personality. And that is often more reliable than an IP report.

 

[jaredmorgs]

What if he was using the - Tor network. Would the mods be able to detect his IP?

In both of these cases, the effort to do this each time you access a forum starts to get tiresome after a while.

Effort vs Reward is a factor here.

Most people on the web have a dynamic IP address, not a static one. Also there are ways to hide your address.
I could log on to this site with an Chinese IP address, if I wanted to.

 

[DokkenRokken]

At least I won't be getting any weird Private Messages from him anymore. lol

 

[superballs]

Both skill_shot and and mark had valid points but I wonder if they had some deep issues and insecurities, especially when their ideas are challenged. Maybe they don't realize that message boards are actually someone's private property and free speech rights don't actually apply.

I think it takes a lot more than being confrontational or having a poor filter to be banned, else I would have been booted a long time. I think the issue is that some people can't drop things or hold grudges or feel they have to paint a permanent target on other's backs.

I will name names here to illustrate. I tend to be pretty blunt and opinionated and sometines a bit harsh on newer members who ask questions that have been asked ad nauseum but I say my piece and reply to replies and when a debate or argument runs it's course it gets put behind me. Most of the people I have said arguments with also do the same thing. I'm sure Night and VPalmer could attest to this just as two who stick out in my mind right now as we've had stupid little squabbles but for the most part get along and agree when we agree.

We have a lot of really smart people here who feel strongly about the product and who feel strongly about how they would like to see it evolve. For instance some people think the lack of cab support is a deal and some that think that it's an overreaction. Are any side right? Sure both are each from their own perspective but it's fun to argue about. There's a difference between arguing, even in a heated fashion and mistreating or abusing other members.

 

[Kratos3]

Both skill_shot and and mark had valid points but I wonder if they had some deep issues and insecurities, especially when their ideas are challenged. Maybe they don't realize that message boards are actually someone's private property and free speech rights don't actually apply.

I think it takes a lot more than being confrontational or having a poor filter to be banned, else I would have been booted a long time. I think the issue is that some people can't drop things or hold grudges or feel they have to paint a permanent target on other's backs.

I will name names here to illustrate. I tend to be pretty blunt and opinionated and sometines a bit harsh on newer members who ask questions that have been asked ad nauseum but I say my piece and reply to replies and when a debate or argument runs it's course it gets put behind me. Most of the people I have said arguments with also do the same thing. I'm sure Night and VPalmer could attest to this just as two who stick out in my mind right now as we've had stupid little squabbles but for the most part get along and agree when we agree.

We have a lot of really smart people here who feel strongly about the product and who feel strongly about how they would like to see it evolve. For instance some people think the lack of cab support is a deal and some that think that it's an overreaction. Are any side right? Sure both are each from their own perspective but it's fun to argue about. There's a difference between arguing, even in a heated fashion and mistreating or abusing other members.

This whole thing was stupid.

 

[Kratos3]

 

[superballs]

I only have one feeling and it's hurt. Thanks for hurting my feeling.

 

[karl]

Both skill_shot and and mark had valid points but I wonder if they had some deep issues and insecurities, especially when their ideas are challenged. Maybe they don't realize that message boards are actually someone's private property and free speech rights don't actually apply.

I think it takes a lot more than being confrontational or having a poor filter to be banned, else I would have been booted a long time. I think the issue is that some people can't drop things or hold grudges or feel they have to paint a permanent target on other's backs.

I will name names here to illustrate. I tend to be pretty blunt and opinionated and sometines a bit harsh on newer members who ask questions that have been asked ad nauseum but I say my piece and reply to replies and when a debate or argument runs it's course it gets put behind me. Most of the people I have said arguments with also do the same thing. I'm sure Night and VPalmer could attest to this just as two who stick out in my mind right now as we've had stupid little squabbles but for the most part get along and agree when we agree.

We have a lot of really smart people here who feel strongly about the product and who feel strongly about how they would like to see it evolve. For instance some people think the lack of cab support is a deal and some that think that it's an overreaction. Are any side right? Sure both are each from their own perspective but it's fun to argue about. There's a difference between arguing, even in a heated fashion and mistreating or abusing other members.

Great post Greenballs Agree with you there

 

[Annorax]

For what it's worth I believe you're doing a stand up job as a moderator and the good of the many outweighs the need of the one in these cases. (cheesy Star Trek reference)

This. As a long-time experienced admin on a very large forum who participates in decisions like this on a near-daily basis, I can say this: the needs of the many in most cases do outweigh the needs of the few or the one; sometimes you just have to admit a troll can't be rehabilitated & send them off for a life sentence on Rura Penthe.

 

[Dedpop]

I want people to talk about me again and again.
Could someone tells me how I can be banned ?
Thanx

 

[karl]

Probably not the best way to become infamous

 

[Bravewall]

I may be brand spanking new to this forum, and have no frame of reference on who this mark guy is, but I am a moderator for The Simpsons: Tapped Out forum, and the first post is legit, word-for-word exactly what I have to go through with one particular individual. He's been banned twice, he just came back, half the forum loves him, the other half hates him, and that doesn't include the people who left because of him.

He talks so much crap about the game, and usually its nonsensical, even though its been well established that he loves it and spends more money on it than anyone. And its perfectly in his right to do so, but he only does it to troll people that don't understand why he would keep playing and dropping money, if he hates it so much. Its all about getting more attention and feedback. He is so renowned for doing this, that he got a mention in the actual game by Lisa Simpson. And now he just tells everyone who hates him that they're jealous of his fame.

He particularly hates my fricking guts, since long before I became a mod there, and dares me to ban him every time I stop him from offending people. Most of the time he just knows the right thing to say to bait people in to arguing about him for days, and it becomes this forum civil war. Its absolutely ridiculous, and yet he just walks the line between acceptable and non acceptable, and all I can do is stand back and monitor.

Any action, or inaction I take, I get accused of either being a lazy mod, or an abusive mod. And I can't say nothing publicly. I'm expected to be better than that. People don't know the evil things this guy says because I have to delete the evidence, and then he acts like a kitten that I just wounded. So to this forum's mods, I feel your pain. It is a monumental waste of time and patience, when you have a particularly prolific troll, that adds some value, but is mostly just toxic. I'm just glad that in your case, you are able to get your side of the story across.

 

[shutyertrap]

He talks so much crap about the game, and usually its nonsensical, even though its been well established that he loves it and spends more money on it than anyone. And its perfectly in his right to do so, but he only does it to troll people that don't understand why he would keep playing and dropping money, if he hates it so much. Its all about getting more attention and feedback. He is so renowned for doing this, that he got a mention in the actual game by Lisa Simpson. And now he just tells everyone who hates him that they're jealous of his fame.

I've never understood this behavior. If you truly hate something, leave and give it no attention. If you love it so much that you hate what's wrong, offer solutions. I've jumped on issues I've had with TPA, but usually follow up with a suggested solution. And we specifically dealt with someone here claiming they earned the right to smack talk because they were so much better than everyone else at playing the game. After many attempts at trying to teach them this word known as 'humility' and 'being humble', and failing, the answer was to simply shove humility down their throats via a banning.

He particularly hates my fricking guts, since long before I became a mod there, and dares me to ban him every time I stop him from offending people. Most of the time he just knows the right thing to say to bait people in to arguing about him for days, and it becomes this forum civil war. Its absolutely ridiculous, and yet he just walks the line between acceptable and non acceptable, and all I can do is stand back and monitor.

I'd take people up on that dare. They are calling your bluff. Hey, no skin off my back. You wanna be banned? Done. Next.

Any action, or inaction I take, I get accused of either being a lazy mod, or an abusive mod. And I can't say nothing publicly. I'm expected to be better than that. People don't know the evil things this guy says because I have to delete the evidence, and then he acts like a kitten that I just wounded. So to this forum's mods, I feel your pain. It is a monumental waste of time and patience, when you have a particularly prolific troll, that adds some value, but is mostly just toxic. I'm just glad that in your case, you are able to get your side of the story across.

Yeah, I'm not very good at 'being better than that'. I instead offer the shovel with which the person can dig their own grave. The hardest part about being a mod to me is any action I take reflects on the whole mod team. Admittedly, there are much better mods on this forum than myself, who are quick to snap into action in a mod-like fashion. I'm too busy wondering if I should see how things play out or if I should add more rope with which an ill tempered forum user can hang themselves with.

As my shovel and rope analogies might suggest, I'm not a delete the problem and speak no more of it kind of guy. I'm all for making a fool look even more foolish. Let their posts stand so that everyone might see the idiocy of their ways. And then they can be banned without getting the final word. The problem with a troll is they always think they'll get at least one more post to speak their side of the story. So give 'em 2 or 3 attempts and then pull the plug without warning? That's where mod styles differ, and cooler heads do need to prevail.

Listen to the cooler heads. My first draft of the original post contained things that I didn't see as being an issue but other mods rightfully pointed out could cause backlash for not only me, but them too. Even this draft caused them some interaction they hoped to avoid. The good news is, it's all past us and the forum is a (hopefully) better place for it.

 

[Bravewall]

Good stuff. Well, I think I just recognized somebody here from the Tapped Out forum, so I should probably not comment further on my own experiences. lol

 

[Espy]

I used to moderate an old Zelda website which used to be huge, but is now dead in the water. I have to say, some of the abuse you get from individuals is hilarious. I had someone PM me a huge rant, then colour individual letters throughout the message which spelled out a rather unpleasant phrase, then ended his post with "READ THE COLOURED LETTERS!"

Creative, to say the least.

 

[Kolchak357]

I used to moderate an old Zelda website which used to be huge, but is now dead in the water. I have to say, some of the abuse you get from individuals is hilarious. I had someone PM me a huge rant, then colour individual letters throughout the message which spelled out a rather unpleasant phrase, then ended his post with "READ THE COLOURED LETTERS!"

Creative, to say the least.

Sounds like the Unabomber played Zelda. That is some creepy stuff.

 

[Bravewall]

I had someone PM me a huge rant, then colour individual letters throughout the message which spelled out a rather unpleasant phrase, then ended his post with "READ THE COLOURED LETTERS!"

Creative, to say the least.

I also had something like that, with my particular troll.